CM Archives - Page 29 of 30 - Means Engineering, Inc.

Using Value Engineering to Improve Quality and Reduce Costs

February 16, 2018 By meiadmin

Using Value Engineering to Improve Quality and Reduce Costs

Companies around the globe are under a lot of pressure to create high quality products at the lowest cost possible. This is especially true for the medical, defense and aerospace industries.

Understanding Value Engineering

Value engineering involves finding creative new ways to produce products at a lower cost. Although many companies associate value engineering with a reduction of quality, the main goal should be to increase quality while reducing the costs of production. This benefits companies in all industries.

There are currently two main types of value engineering used by manufacturers. Process value engineering involves removing waste from the production process. This boosts efficiency and lowers costs. Product value engineering involves changing the design of a product to reduce costs and waste while improving the quality of the finished product.

While process value engineering focuses on waste and is an important part of lean production, it does nothing to increase the quality of products produced or the overall efficiency of the production process.

Benefits of Product Value Engineering

Even though product value engineering helps cut costs, this isn’t the only benefit. Product value engineering encourages companies to search for creative new ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Product value engineering comes from a truly technical perspective. The engineer creating the product must fully evaluate its design to locate unique ways to improve the efficiency of production. This can add significant value to the product produced.

Using a Contract Manufacturer

Companies looking to improve product quality while reducing costs often seek out a second set of eyes. A qualified contract manufacturer can provide a thorough analysis of product designs. They can help you locate areas that can benefit from improvement.

Contract manufacturers help with the design, production and testing of a variety of products. Means Engineering, Inc. has experience working with a wide range of industries. Our experienced engineers are skilled at locating ways to improve efficiency and reduce the costs of production.

We are an AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer. This helps ensure the quality and reliability of products produced.

Top Industries That Benefit From Contract Manufacturing

February 9, 2018 By meiadmin

Top Industries That Benefit From Contract Manufacturing

Contract manufacturing benefits businesses in a wide range of industries. A qualified contract manufacturer helps businesses design, produce and test a variety of products. This is ideal for small businesses and start-ups as well as businesses in industries with strict regulations.

Although contract manufacturing can help businesses of all shapes and sizes, there are some industries that benefit most from outsourcing.

Medical Industry

People all around the world use medical devices. These important devices help diagnose, treat and monitor millions of people everyday. It’s no surprise that companies creating medical devices must follow extremely strict regulations. Using a contract manufacturer helps reduce costs and ensure the creation of high quality medical devices.

ISO 13485 certified contract manufacturers are committed to providing high quality devices that meet or exceed regulations and requirements.

Defense Industry

In the defense industry, electronic devices are used for communication, navigation and the collection of important data. Proper operation of these devices is crucial. Manufacturers designing products for the defense industry must focus their efforts on increasing quality, while reducing power consumption and costs.

An AS9100 certified contract manufacturer helps companies create high quality, reliable products for the defense industry. A qualified contract manufacturer should be able to design, produce and fully test a wide range of products.

Aerospace Industry

When designing devices to be used in space, care must be taken to ensure that they are able to withstand extreme forces. These devices must be fully tested before use.

Companies working in the aerospace industry often utilize the help of a contract manufacturer to create their products. These products are carefully designed to resist damage or malfunction when placed under extreme forces.

Working With a Contract Manufacturer

There are many benefits to working with a contract manufacturer. Companies in the previously mentioned industries often hire contract manufacturers to design, build and test products or the parts of a product. Contract manufacturing can also be used for new product development and to fill orders during times of high demand. Using a contract manufacturer allows companies to create new products without having to obtain new technology or equipment.

Creating High Quality Medical Devices

February 2, 2018 By meiadmin

Creating High Quality Medical Devices

The medical industry is constantly changing. New medical devices are created at an alarming rate. It’s crucial that the companies creating these devices are able to keep up with the latest technology. Medical devices perform a wide variety of extremely important jobs. Any malfunction or failure can be disastrous.

Medical devices are hardware or software used to treat human beings or diagnose disease. This also includes devices that have a profound effect on patient safety and risk management. Means Engineering, Inc. designs, creates and tests electronic devices for the medical industry. We strive to produce only the highest quality products. We are an ISO 13485-certified contract manufacturer. This ensures the durability and reliability of every product we produce.

Medical Device Regulations

It can be extremely difficult for companies to bring new products to market. This is especially true for medical devices, which must meet a wide range of regulatory standards. These standards are put in place to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective.

A thorough understanding of medical device regulations is crucial if companies wish to succeed in the medical industry. Most of these regulations revolve around Quality Management System (QMS) and risk management principles.

Regulations change rapidly. It’s up to the manufacturer to understand and implement all necessary changes. Using a contract manufacturer to handle the design and production of medical devices can help reduce costs and ensure compliance.

Contract manufacturers keep up with the latest technologies and techniques. They understand the various medical device regulations. They have the equipment, people and space necessary to consistently produce high quality products.

ISO 13485 Certified CM

ISO 13485 is the international standard for medical device manufacturers. Compliance with ISO 13485 helps minimize risk, reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction, increase sales and improve control over processes and internal systems. Certification also allows companies to access new markets and attract new clients.

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing for a wide range of industries. We work directly with our clients to design, manufacture and test a variety of products. Please contact us for more information about medical device contract manufacturing services.

Turning Ideas Into Reality

January 19, 2018 By meiadmin

Turning Ideas Into Reality

When companies have an idea for a new product, they need the tools and equipment necessary to turn that idea into a reality. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs and start-ups simply do not have the resources necessary to bring new products to market. In these situations, enlisting the help of a qualified contract manufacturer is often necessary.

A contract manufacturer helps with the design, production and testing of a variety of new products. These services benefit businesses of every shape and size across a wide range of industries. Contract manufacturers can even help large companies with new product introductions (NPI) and fulfilling orders during periods of high demand.

Choosing a CM to Work With

The contract manufacturer you work with is responsible for creating products under your company’s label or brand. It’s important to remember that your reputation is on the line with every product produced. Poor quality products can destroy your company’s image, while high quality products increase trust in your brand.

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s crucial that you thoroughly research the companies you are considering. Select a contract manufacturer with experience in a variety of industries. They should have strict policies for quality control and a track record for providing consistent, high quality work.

Keep the following in mind when choosing a contract manufacturer.

Price

Be wary of a contract manufacturer that offers to complete your project at a much lower price than their competitors. It might be possible that the price they are offering does not include all of the necessities for your project. It could also mean that they are using poor quality materials.

However, a higher price tag isn’t always indicative of a higher quality product. Always make sure that you compare specifications from each company you are considering. It will be much easier to choose a company to work with once you fully understand the materials and workmanship you’ll be receiving for your money.

Quality Over Quantity

No matter which company you choose to work with, it will always be true that the more you purchase, the less each piece will cost. However, it’s crucial that you only order what you need. Purchasing more than you require wastes resources and uses up valuable storage space.

Specify Your Requirements

Your contract manufacturer relies on a set of specifications to create your products. These specifications include material type, size, color, etc. If you do not clearly specify your requirements you could end up with stacks of useless product.

Before choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, make sure that you are comfortable discussing the details of your project. Keep in mind that communication could mean the difference between success and failure.

Industries That Can Benefit From A Contract Manufacturer

December 1, 2017 By meiadmin

Industries That Can Benefit From A Contract Manufacturer

Businesses across a wide range of industries can benefit from hiring a contract manufacturer. Contract manufacturers help businesses produce more products, increase their product line and reduce costs and time to market.

A contract manufacturer can be used for all parts of production including design, manufacture and testing. Using a contract manufacturer can help increase the quality and consistency of products produced. A contract manufacturer can help businesses find ways to make production more efficient.

The following industries can benefit from working with a quality contract manufacturer.